Latest news with #LiveFreeOKC
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police searching for answers after shooting near OKC food hall: Everything we know so far
Authorities are investigating after a shooting near an Oklahoma City food hall resulted in nine injuries and left the Midtown community looking for answers. The Oklahoma City Police Department reports no arrests have been made in relation to the shooting that occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. on May 5 in the street just outside The Collective, located on N Harvey Ave. in Midtown. The police department is actively investigating the incident and collecting information, though no arrests have been made. Here is everything we known about the incident so far: How many people were injured? On May 5, authorities responded to a shooting just after 10:30 p.m. at NW 10th St. and N. Harvey Ave. There were nine people injured in the incident Monday night. Injuries varied, with seven people suffering gunshot wounds, four of whom were seriously injured. Two others were injured by flying glass. All victims are expected to survive their injuries, police said. More: OKC district reeling after shooting injures 9 outside The Collective: 'It has to stop' What caused the incident? As the investigation is in its early stages, little is known about what caused the incident. According to officials at The Collective, a fight broke out near the patio of the food hall at the corner of Tenth Street and Harvey Avenue. "When the shots were fired, everyone kind of dispersed and panicked at the situation," said Nathan Wiewel, a spokesperson for The Collective. The Collective was hosting a Cinco de Mayo event with additional security due to anticipated crowds. When shots were fired, Wiewel said that people ran into The Collective to take cover. "People were running in to The Collective and the staff was getting them in, making sure they were staying as safe as possible in there," he said. "The staff at The Collective were treating them, making sure that they were as safe as possible, making sure that responders could get to them." How is the community reacting? LiveFree OKC CEO Jess Eddy is one of several area residents leading new efforts to prevent gun violence in the city. For nearly two years, his organization in the city's east side has employed a team of 'PeaceMakers' to intervene in high-stress situations and connect people with mental health resources. The day after the shooting, Eddy was in Washington D.C. advocating for his nonprofit after the Department of Justice announced it was canceling grant funding previously meant for LiveFree OKC and similar programs nationwide. 'LiveFree OKC extends our love and support to all impacted by last night's shooting at The Collective. Instead of a time of shared enjoyment watching the Thunder play, guns were fired and bullets ripped through flesh and life,' Eddy said in a statement. 'We pray for those directly impacted and the families of those injured.' The Collective is focusing on the mental health of employees, setting up a fund to help victims with medical bills and long-term goals of cleanup as the shooting left some property damage. For now, The Collective remains closed, with several boarded-up windows and discarded medical gloves in the street, the last signs remaining in the wake of Monday night's shooting. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shooting in OKC near The Collective leaves 9 injured: Everything we know
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal funding cut from OKC nonprofit stopping gun violence
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Federal cuts are impacting an Oklahoma City nonprofit that's focused on reducing gun violence. LiveFree OKC found out earlier this week that the U.S. Department of Justice was stripping them of a $2 million federal grant. 'Really left us in the lurch here,' said Jess Eddy, CEO, LiveFree OKC. LiveFree OKC and Diversion Hub were expecting those dollars to come over three years to expand their work. LOCAL NEWS: Teen fined hundreds of dollars for doing donuts in Choctaw Creek Park 'Expanding community violence intervention services in ward seven here in the northeast side. A significant amount of funding for payroll really is what we were using it to fund staff. We just hired new staff, just got them trained, so it's a big hit,' said Eddy. According to the DOJ, the grants were cancelled because they no longer align with the Trump Administration's priorities. A spokesperson for the DOJ said, 'This Department of Justice is focused on prosecuting criminals, getting illegal drugs off of the streets, and protecting American institutions from toxic DEI and sanctuary city policies.' 'We're focused on stopping gun violence and I don't even know how those terms apply to this work. We're a public health organization and we're trying to help people heal from violence, trying to help people make good decisions, mentoring kids and all those things,' said Eddy. LOCAL NEWS: Police investigating homicide in Midwest City Without those federal dollars coming in, Eddy believes it could lead to more gun violence. 'It means people in graves, it means mothers without children, it means people in prison for the rest of their lives,' said Eddy. While the future is uncertain, Eddy says they're not giving up. 'We are not considering laying off staff at this time,' said Eddy. He's hopeful that city and state leaders, along with the community will step up and help where the federal government is not. To learn more or get involved with LiveFree OKC, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
